Related

Etrex 10 upgrade

Former Member
Former Member over 8 years ago
Hi

I have just bought a new Garmin Etrex 10 handheld GPS unit after my previous Etrex 10 stopped working after more than 15 years (I'm happy with paying only $100 more than 15 years ago!).

When I looked at the manual online (the unit hasn't delivered yet), I couldn't see a feature I use quite often - Nearest Waypoints. The old model only allowed a 6 character name for waypoints, and as I use the GPS for fishing, I want names like 'Black Rocks 4' or something. It seems the new one allows for more characters, and notes! So when I go out fishing, I often just motor to the area, then use the 'Nearest Waypoint' feature to identify a list of waypoints from which I can select one and then 'Navigate To'. I can't seem to see this feature in the new model, can anyone help?

I also want to upload my waypoints that I fortunately saved last year to my PC, onto the new unit. I haven't looked in detail, but I assume this is straightforward. The old unit only had a limited format (two I think) for waypoints and mine are all in WGS84. When I tried plotting them on Google Earth I ended up with some spots on dry land! A quick conversion resolved that though. Do I need to do any conversions in order to upload the waypoints using the USB cable?

I'm really looking forward to using my new Etrex 10 and would have liked to have compared it to the old one, but sadly, that unit has ended its long and useful life!

Phill
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    It's not clear from your description how your waypoints are saved to your PC, but assuming they display in BaseCamp you just connect your Etrex to your PC, which should then show in BaseCamp, and send the waypoints to it.

    Your other issue is a device issue, and there are no forums here to cater for device issues, but for your info your Etrex will display all waypoints from nearest to farthest so no need for a 'nearest waypoints' instruction.

    Incidentally I'm confused by your mention of your previous Etrex 10 lasting 15 years, since they weren't available 10 years ago let alone 15?
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Incidentally I'm confused by your mention of your previous Etrex 10 lasting 15 years, since they weren't available 10 years ago let alone 15?


    He probably meant the old yellow etrex - the one without number - which was an indirect predecessor to the now available etrex 10:
    https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/6403
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Devices and software are always using and storing values using the WGS84 datum in decimal degree format (positive for E/N, negative for S/W). When formats or datums are changed they are read, converted, then displayed. But in the background they remain unchanged.

    Software and devices will expect that coordinates as above.

    You do not say how you saved the waypoints, but if it was a gpx file or thru MapSource, they will be in the correct format.

    On any given device page, pressing the menu button will give show any options relevant to that page. So, when searching for Waypoints, they should be by nearest, but pressing the menu button will likely give you the option to do a spell search.